Memory playback worse than disk... Why?

I also believe JRivers buffer setting to be the problem. I agree that FLAC is not a bad format, but to my old ears, WAV sounds better. You can argue formats all day, but in the end, listen to you're own preference.
Mizuno, I switched back to foobar 2000 and problem was solved.

See my post here, which describes a fix that I suspect stands a good chance of being applicable. That solution did in fact solve the tics/pops/skipping problem the OP in that thread had, with a Windows 7 laptop playing audio via USB.

Regards,
-- Al

FLAC is not a bad format. It's just 1's and 0's. It's how you read those 1's and 0's and pass them to your speakers that is the culprit.

" FLAC is not a bad format. It's just 1's and 0's."

When did I hear identical argument????
Oh in 1982 when CD Players were introduced...

People must go more frequntly to acoustic concerts and/or wash with soap their ears so they will know what they HEAR not what they read in smart manuals.

" Don't blame the format if your computer cannot handle it.
"

Should I comment? Did I disclose to anyone (except Alex Peychev of APL HiFi) my computer? Nope! I will be silent like a fish!

Just tried to help OP - I had identical problem, solved it and explained how. Also not good; somehow stepped on some egos.....Brrrrr

Oh, if someone wants to use lossless compressed format then APE is much better sonically then FLAC. Particulalry with hi-rez (e.g. 24/176.4) files. The 16/44.1 is really not a challange today

agreed on both windows and BIOS power settings... wake from sleep state is bad for audio reproduction. Unfortunately laptops tend to be less diverse in changing BIOS options that could help since they have to focus on battery life preservation.